GM Rolls Out Fuel Cell Vehicles

General Motors delivered six HydroGen3 prototype fuel cell vehicles to Capitol Hill for lawmakers and others to test drive during the next two years, The Associated Press reported.

Based on GM's Opel Zafira minivan, the vehicles are powered by fuel cells which convert hydrogen into electricity. Each HydroGen3 costs about $1 million, the story said, citing GM officials.

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The HydroGen3 can travel about 290 miles before it needs more hydrogen, GM technicians said. Shell Hydrogen, a division of Shell Oil Products Company, said it will install two hydrogen refueling pumps by October as part of the project.

GM Chairman Rick Wagoner said the vehicles will increase lawmakers' understanding of fuel cell technology. "We can do a lot to bring this technology to the market, but obviously it's going to be a team sport," Wagoner said. "We need policy-makers to see where we can go with this."

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Dow and GM Join in Fuel Cell Research

Dow Chemical Company, the world's largest chemical manufacturer, and General Motors, the world's largest automobile manufacturer, have joined in largest commercial application of fuel cells to date.

The intent of the partnership, according a Dow statement, is for GM to commercialize its hydrogen fuel cell technology to generate electricity from hydrogen created as a co-product at Dow's operations in Freeport, Texas, a 30-square-mile complex 65 miles east of Houston and Dow's largest manufacturing facility.

If tests proceed according to plan, Dow could eventually use up to 35 megawatts of power generated by 500 GM fuel cell units on an ongoing basis. This is enough electricity to power 25,000 homes for a year and is more than 15 times bigger than any other known fuel cell transaction. The test is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2003 and to run through 2005, with plans to commercialize starting in 2006.

"This is a significant milestone not only from a technology and business perspective, but from an environmental one as well," says Bill Jewell, Dow's business vice president of energy. If the tests are successful, Dow could become the largest user of fuel cell generated electricity in the world. "Technology moves forward in steps. This step can prove the feasibility of manufacturing and using fuel cells in significant quantities."

Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and planning, and Peter Molinaro, global leader of climate change for Dow, jointly announced the arrangement in the U.S. capital.

"While this is a milestone event," Burns said, "and it points to a growing interest among businesses in using fuel cells to power factories and buildings, the most compelling reason for GM to collaborate with Dow is ultimately to reduce the cost of fuel cells and improve their durability so that we may put them in cars by the end of the decade."

"As we reduce costs and improve durability, new applications will emerge that serve industrial, commercial and, finally, consumer power and transportation needs," Burns said. "GM will continue to lead the development of these applications."